All Soul's, 2011 AD

One thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ… Philippians 3:13-14



Dear Friends,

Our founders are long gone now – gone home to the eternal reward that awaits those who love and serve the Lord. The Parish records they left are a sparse, dry chronology at best. So we can only imagine what hope they brought to this remote bay-side colony so many years ago.

But one thing is for certain. Their hopes created a Christian community that has endured and grown through a thousand sunny days and stormy nights, war and peace, boom and bust to become St. Peter’s by-the-Sea – that ever powerful beacon of faith!

We honor our founder’s achievements and legacy of succeeding generations not by dwelling on the past, but by living the gospel right here, right now.

As Paul tells us, this is how it should be. Our goal is the Jesus-centered life, leaving our self-centered distractions behind in the dust. Through grace we know that this is not an abstract, pious platitude. Rather, it is a practical prescription for the good life – both in the here and now an ultimately in the then and there of eternal life. It is a true today as it was when our founders first gathered. And it is true today as it will be ages hence.

So in the spirit of straining forward to what is ahead we pray for all here and for the generations to come that we may keep our eyes on the prize. Praising God, and serving our neighbors. Confident that God works through us as we do his work, right here, right now.

Faithfully yours in Christ’s love,